Ninety-two percent of the families in Gush Katif and neighboring communities have signed a "Declaration of Allegiance to Gush Katif," pledging in principle not to accept financial compensation for their homes. "Bribes and pay-offs will not entice us to leave our homes,' they say. The petition was initiated by the Gush Katif Residents Action Committee, and some 1,200 of the 1,300 families signed it. Committee head Rafi Seri said that the petition is a way of heading off an attempt by the government to financially entice the residents not to object to the destruction of their homes.
"As a heavy cloud threatens our life work," the residents signed, "we say: We will continue to grasp on to this land. No person in the world has the ethical right to uproot us from our inheritance. With G-d's help, we will remain here forever."
"As a heavy cloud threatens our life work," the residents signed, "we say: We will continue to grasp on to this land. No person in the world has the ethical right to uproot us from our inheritance. With G-d's help, we will remain here forever."